The Deal: Kroger Deal Could Spur Supermarket M&A

In snatching Harris Teeter Supermarkets off the shelf for nearly $2.5 billion, Kroger is jumping into the consolidation game in the Southeast.

NEW YORK ( The Deal) -- In snatching Harris Teeter Supermarkets ( HTSI) off the shelf for nearly $2.5 billion, Kroger ( KR) is jumping into the consolidation game in the Southeast.

By adding a Southeast footprint, Cincinnati-based Kroger is taking on Jacksonville, Fla.-based Bi-Lo Holdings, which has also been expanding its foothold in the region with acquisitions. According to a source, Kroger's move into the region will likely portend additional acquisitions, in what is seen as the U.S.'s most fragmented grocery market.

Bi-Lo, controlled by private equity firm Lone Star Funds, itself has been on a bit of a spending spree since exiting Chapter 11 protection in May 2010. Bi-Lo acquired Winn-Dixie Stores for $560 million in December 2011. More recently, in May, Bi-Lo acquired Delhaize Group's Sweetbay, Harveys and Reid's operations in the Southeast for $265 million.

The grocery chain emerged from bankruptcy having slashed $60 million in debt off its balance sheet and in a prime position to pursue growth via acquisitions. It exited Chapter 11 with a $150 million cash infusion from Loan Star as well as a new $200 million term loan and $200 million revolver, according to The Deal Pipeline.

Kroger's deal for Harris Teeter will give it a big boost in the Southeast. Harris Teeter operates 212 stores, generating about $4.5 billion in annual sales.

The Deal Pipeline reported in 2011 that Harris Teeter was a likely candidate for consolidation. Other likely candidates in the mid-Atlantic and the Southeast include Black Mountain, N.C.-based Ingles Markets ( IMKTA) and Abingdon, Va.-based K-VA-T Foodstores.

Analysts have previously tabbed Kroger and Bi-Lo, as well as Publix Super Markets and Royal Ahold, as likely acquirers of such assets.

Due to a slow, but steady, economic recovery and a rise in home prices, strategic acquirers and private equity firms have more confidence in investing in the supermarket business. But the supermarket business remains highly competitive. Traditional outsiders such as pharmacy giant Walgreen ( WAG), discounter Dollar General ( DG) and Wal-Mart Stores ( WMT) have aggressively moved into the grocery business.

At the high end, retailers such as Whole Foods Markets ( WFM) offer an assortment of prepared foods as well as organic and natural foods and are luring away affluent shoppers. In addition to Whole Foods, other competitors include Apollo Global Management ( APO)-backed Sprouts Farmers Market, which has filed for an initial public offering; Fairway Group Holdings ( FWM), which itself popped by 33% during its stock market debut; and Trader Joe's.